Although there is still a long way to go, there is already enormous interest in this project, which is likely to help shape Steyr’s development: on Monday evening, the city invited people to get to know the “Zukunftsvision Horizont Steyr”, the future start-up center between Berggasse and Promenade in the former premises of the prison, the police detention center and the monastery school. 180 interested parties, potential future tenants as well as curious Steyr residents, accepted the invitation.

“I am moved by how much interest there is in this project,” said Mayor Markus Vogl afterwards during the exchange of ideas in the Altes Theater. “There is a lot of strength in the region. I sense a spirit of optimism.” Horizon is a lighthouse project, the beginning of a new era: “We are convinced that we are doing the right thing here.”
The ambitious goal is to complete a EUR 13 million makeover by 2028 in order to create space for start-ups and young technology-oriented and knowledge-based companies. The mastermind behind this conversion is Chris Müller, founding director of Tabakfabrik Linz, Nestroy Award winner, CEO of CMb.industries GmbH and gifted storyteller. Steyr is special and a city of resilience, says Müller, who attests that this ensemble has similar potential to the Tabakfabrik, only on a smaller scale. A cell renewal is taking place here, he emphasized, alluding to its former use as a prison: “But I’m sure that some people will sign a letter of interest as future tenants today, otherwise I’ll pay for a crate of beer.” To anticipate: Müller did not have to organize a crate of beer.
“This property is simply inspiring. It has a unique atmosphere,” explains Vogl: “At the end of the evening, we collected eleven signed letters of intent.” In addition, there are already numerous synergies to be exploited in the area surrounding Horizont Steyr, some of them with global market leaders in their field.

Already eleven potential tenants
One potential future tenant is Manfred Haiberger, whose company Haratech already operates in the tobacco factory, among other places. There, too, it took a lot of imagination to get a picture of the opportunities, just like here: “But I believed in it,” says the entrepreneur: “Horizont could become an innovation hub for us for the development of a smart 3D printing factory.”

The well-known Steyr consultant and networker Christoph Jungwirth also sees his future professional base behind former monastery and prison walls: New points of contact would arise here. And a young entrepreneur from the environmental sector specified: “I am very interested in solitary confinement with the option of roommates.”

The provisional prices for a “solitary confinement” office with a size of 10.3 to 15 square meters have already been fixed: 280 to 420 euros per month. Shared cells for four or more employees are up to 51.5 square meters in size. These cost more than 1000 euros per month. The basis for the start of the detailed horizon planning should be in place by the summer, says Vogl.

“The rebirth of Brownfields lies in the death of the original function.” Chris Müller, the founding director of Tabakfabrik Linz, sees great potential in a fresh cell culture for the old prison corridors on Berggasse (note: brownfields are industrial wasteland and built-up but unused areas).

The report was written by Gerald Winterleitner in OÖNachrichten/Steyr from Wed, 25.02.2026
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Picture: (c) Tobias Zachl